New Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says ensuring a team-first mentality will be his priority at the AFL club. Nicks on Tuesday was announced as Crows coach, replacing Don Pyke who quit last month. "We will be a team that not only embraces the contest but seeks it out," Nicks said in a statement before an afternoon media conference. "A team-first mentality also sits at the core of all successful clubs and from this day forward it will always be a clear focus and priority." Nicks was a senior assistant coach at GWS last season, joining the Giants after filling various assistant coaching roles, at Port Adelaide since 2011. "Timing is everything and I feel very well prepared, having progressed from being a development coach to a senior assistant at two different clubs in vastly different markets," he said. "I am honoured to be given the opportunity to coach at Adelaide and even more excited about what we can achieve together as players, coaches and staff." The Adelaide-born 44-year-old takes over with the Crows in a state of flux, missing the finals for the past two seasons after losing the 2017 grand final. In addition to Pyke's resignation, Taylor Walker has stood down as co-captain and an external review into the club resulted in the sackings of football manager Brett Burton and senior assistant coach Scott Camporeale. Several players are exiting the South Australian club with confirmed moves of Eddie Betts to Carlton and Cam Ellis-Yolmen to Brisbane the first in a string of departures before Wednesday night's end to the trade period. Ruckman Sam Jacobs (GWS), defender Alex Keath (St Kilda) and utility Hugh Greenwood (Gold Coast) are all expected to move on while key forward Josh Jenkins is seeking a trade but has yet to field an offer. Forward Riley Knight is off-contract and has been linked to Sydney while several rival clubs including Gold Coast have pitched multi-million dollar offers to midfielder and reigning club champion Brad Crouch, who is contracted until the end of the 2020 season. Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman said Nicks would steer the Crows in an "exciting new era" for the club. "Matthew is the perfect person to guide and develop our talented playing list as it goes through a period of rejuvenation," Chapman said in a statement. Nicks is the ninth man appointed as full-time coach of the Crows since the club's AFL inception in 1991. MATTHEW NICKS AT A GLANCE * Age: 44 * Born: Adelaide, South Australia * GWS senior assistant coach 2019 * Port Adelaide assistant coach from 2011-18 * AFL games: 175 for Sydney from 1996-2005 Australian Associated Press

Matthew Nicks to coach Adelaide in AFL

Matthew Nicks has landed his first job as an AFL senior coach, taking the reins at Adelaide.

New Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says ensuring a team-first mentality will be his priority at the AFL club.

Nicks on Tuesday was announced as Crows coach, replacing Don Pyke who quit last month.

"We will be a team that not only embraces the contest but seeks it out," Nicks said in a statement before an afternoon media conference.

"A team-first mentality also sits at the core of all successful clubs and from this day forward it will always be a clear focus and priority."

Nicks was a senior assistant coach at GWS last season, joining the Giants after filling various assistant coaching roles, at Port Adelaide since 2011.

"Timing is everything and I feel very well prepared, having progressed from being a development coach to a senior assistant at two different clubs in vastly different markets," he said.

"I am honoured to be given the opportunity to coach at Adelaide and even more excited about what we can achieve together as players, coaches and staff."

The Adelaide-born 44-year-old takes over with the Crows in a state of flux, missing the finals for the past two seasons after losing the 2017 grand final.

In addition to Pyke's resignation, Taylor Walker has stood down as co-captain and an external review into the club resulted in the sackings of football manager Brett Burton and senior assistant coach Scott Camporeale.

Several players are exiting the South Australian club with confirmed moves of Eddie Betts to Carlton and Cam Ellis-Yolmen to Brisbane the first in a string of departures before Wednesday night's end to the trade period.

Ruckman Sam Jacobs (GWS), defender Alex Keath (St Kilda) and utility Hugh Greenwood (Gold Coast) are all expected to move on while key forward Josh Jenkins is seeking a trade but has yet to field an offer.

Forward Riley Knight is off-contract and has been linked to Sydney while several rival clubs including Gold Coast have pitched multi-million dollar offers to midfielder and reigning club champion Brad Crouch, who is contracted until the end of the 2020 season.

Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman said Nicks would steer the Crows in an "exciting new era" for the club.

"Matthew is the perfect person to guide and develop our talented playing list as it goes through a period of rejuvenation," Chapman said in a statement.

Nicks is the ninth man appointed as full-time coach of the Crows since the club's AFL inception in 1991.